Magazine-construction



T. H. EICKHOFFA MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLlcATloN FILED luNE 30,1920.

1,365,234. Pam/ed Jan.11,1921.

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THEODORE H. EICKHOFF, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO AUTO-ORDNANCE VCORI?ORA'JIION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION.

.detachably connected to firearms of a number of types and receive relatively rough usage in filling and handling them so that it is essential that they be strong' in construction, yet their weight must be kept low in order to maintain the low weight and -balance of the gun with which they are to be used, and as they are used in large quantities it is highly desirable that the construction besimplified andthe cost kept low.

My type of magazine is attached to the gun by means of va T-shaped or dove-tailed portion extending rearwardly of the magazine. The magazine extends below the gun and in order to preserve the proper alinement of the magazine and to maintain it even after the magazine may have been accidentally struck, it is essential that the connecting portion have a considerable amount of rigidity.

In magazines of this character the car tridges are fed upward by means of a spring 4pressed follower, the lower end of the spring pressing against the bottom of the magazine.. The cartridges are usually placed in the magazine by an apparatus thrusting the full load in through the top, the cartridges being moved rapidly and with considerable force. It is therefore essential that the follower be adapted to receive the thrust of this character without distortion and without getting out of alinement or getting jammed in the magazine casing, and that the bottom of the magazine be maintained in the magazine casing by a connection of suflicieiit strength to withstand the sudden Specication of Letters Patent.

Application i'iled .Tune 30, 1920. Serial No. 393,015.

increase in the thrust of the follower spring.

caused by the'sudden downward movement of the follower under the inwardly pushed cartridges. It is also highly desirable that the magazine base be removable in order to permit ease of assembly and also to permit replacement of a broken or defective follower spring or the cleaning of themagazine interior.

It is an object of my invention to provide a magazine of the character described which is simple in construction, composed of relatively few parts, which is provided with a light but rigid attaching portion and which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. It is also an object to provide a strong one-piece follower which is capable of undergoing loading shocks without distortion pr jamming. It is a further object to provide a simple detachable bottom with a rigid connection to the magazine proper. Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of the magazine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the magazine taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a rear view;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view;

Fig. 5 is a top View;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig.`2;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front View of the magazine.

The magazine as shown comprises the body member 11, rear closure l2, bottom member 13, spring 14, and follower 15.

The case or body member 11 is formed of sheet metal bent4 into approximately rectangular cross-sectional shape. Atthe side where the ends of the bent metal sheet are located, a longitudinal opening is provided, the ends 16 of the sheet being bentoutwardly approximately in parallelism at the opposite sides of this opening and the edges of the sheet being rolled outwardly. r[he dove-tail gib adapted to fit into a similar groove or guideway in a firearm detachably to secure the magazine to the firearm. ln order to close the aforesaid opening and strengthen the gib a cover or closure 12 is preferably secured over the opening by rolling the lateral marginal portions 1'2" over the rolled or beaded edges of flanges 16.

This form of connection not only positively retains the two members together but forms strong and rigid reinforcements for the attaching flange. The upper portion of the body member is cut away in front at 18 to permit the cartridges to pass out and at 19 in the rear to permit passage of the bolt of the gun to which the magazine is to be attached. The lateral portions of the upper part of the magazine are formed into the cartridge retaining and guiding lips 20. The lower end of the magazine is formed .with the two angular flanges 21, one on either side of the bottom, the flanges being adapted to grip the bottom member 13 and to retain it in position above the lower edge of the front and rear walls of the magazine.

The bottom plate 13 is formed of thin metal adapted to spring into place. It is provided with the small opening 22 adapted to receive thc end of a small tool or similar member in removing it from the magazine. The tool is inserted in the opening and the rear end of the plate 13 is lifted and at the same time moved rearwardly to slip it above the rear edge of the magazine and of the attachment flange and it is then moved rearwardly out from under the angular flanges 21.

The magazine shown is of a type adapted to rhold cartridges in two staggered rows and the follower 15 is provided with the upward extension 23 on one side, so that it is adapted. to contact with the lower-most.

cartridge of each row. This follower 15 is. formed from a single steel stamping and is thus rigid in construction and provided with a continuous skirt which contacts with the inside of the magazine on all sides and thus aids in stabilizing the movement of the.

follower itself and in maintaining the rigidity of the magazine.

The' attachment flange does not' extend the-full height of the magazine, and above its topthe rear of the magazine is cut away- :centrally to provide the space 24, above which the edges of the body blank of the magazine overlap at 25 where they may be spot welded or otherwise connected for rigidity.

The. follower is provided with the rearwardly extending integral lug 26 which extends into the space 24 and against the portion 25 when the magazine is empty. This lug 26 travels in the hollow of the rear at- .tachment flange of the magazine and may Serve to lock the ring mechanism of the- `the present structure. Although the flanges gun to which it is attached or to otherwise indicate to the user that the magazine is empty.

The rear closure 12 is provided with the opening 27 which is adapted to receive a lug or similar member upon the gun and to thus restrain the magazine against vertical movement. The heavy beads 17 effectively prevent other movement of the magazine and will fit in undercut portions of the groove upon the gun to which magazine is attached.

My magazine is formed of but two simple blanks by a single process which rolls the edges together and it is therefore easy to manufacture, and the rolled joints, formed as they are in the portion of the magazine adapted to be connected to the gun, are important aids not only in securing a rigid magazine but in securing a rigid connection to the gun.

An essential feature of detachable magazines is an ability to stack and to pack. compactly, and this ability is preserved in 21 extend laterally beyond the side of the magazine, they do so less than the amount which the upper lips curve inwardly so that by placing adjacent magazines end for end the magazines will pack or stack compactly.

I claim 1. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising an elongate case having an opening extending longitudinally one side, the portions of the case adjacent said opening extending outwardly from the case and having outturned edges forming a dove-tail gib adapted to fit into a similar groove in the firearm.

2. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising an elongate sheet-metal case having an opening extending longitudinally along one side, the portions of the case on opposite 110 sides of said opening being bent outwardly substantially in parallelism and having outwardly rolled edges, thereby forming a dove-tail gib adapted to fit into a similar groove in the firearm. y

3. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising an elongate sheet-metal case having an opening extending longitudinally along one side, the portions of the case on opposite 120 sides of said opening being bent outwardly substantially in parallelism and having outturned edges, and a closure for said opening having its lateral marginal portions bent inwardly around said out-turned edges, 125 thereby forming a closed dove-tail gib adapted to fit into a similar guideway in the firearm.

4. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising a. 180

"sheet metal vbody and a sheet metal rear cloa sheet metal body having its edges extending rearwardly and a sheet metal rear closure, 4the meeting edges of the body and `Closure being folded together to form a guide adapted to fit into a corresponding channel in the firearm.

6. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising a sheet metal body having its edges extending rearwardly to form a hollow flange of less width than the magazine body, and a sheet metal rear closure, the meeting edges of the body and closure being folded together to form a guide adapted to fit into a corresponding Channel in the firearm.

7. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising a sheet metal body and a sheet metal rear olosure, the meeting edges of the body and closure being folded together to form a T- shaped guide adapted to fit into a corresponding channel in the firearm.

8. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising a sheet metal body having its edges extendling rearwardly to form a hollow flange of less width than the magazine body, and a sheet metal rear closure, the meeting edges of the body and closure being folded together to form a guide adapted to fit into a corresponding channel in the firearm, the folded portions of the body and closure forming substantially solid beads upon the hollow ange.

9. Acartridge magazine adapted to be detachably tted to a firearm, comprising a sheet metal body the edges of which are bent to fit into a corresponding channel in the firearm, and a sheet metal rear closure, the meeting edges of the body and closures being folded together to form beads adapted to t'into a corresponding channel in the firearm.

10. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising a sheet metal body the edges of which are bent to fit into a corresponding channel in the firearm, and a sheet metal rear closure, the meeting edges of the body and closures being folded together to form laterally extending substantially solid beads adapted to fit into a corresponding channel in the firearm.

11. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising a sheet metal body, having its edges extending'rearwardly to form a hollow flange of less width than the magazine body, and a sheet metal rear closure, the meeting edges of the body and rear closure being folded together to form alhollow guide adapted to Vfit into-a corresponding channel in the nre- 4ar1n, a delivery opening in one end of the ',magazine, and means including a follower for impellingy cartridges toward said opening, the follower having a portion projecting into said hollow guide.

12. A cartridge magazine adapted to be detachably fitted to a firearm, comprising a sheet metal body, having its edges extending rearwardly to form a hollow flange of less width than the magazine body and a sheet metal rear closure, the meeting edges of the body and rear closure being folded together to form a hollow guide of less height than the magazine, adapted to iit into a corresponding channel in the firearm, a delivery opening in one end of the magazine, and means including a follower for impellin'g cartridges toward said opening, the follower having a portion projecting into said -of the magazine, and a bottom closure adapted to be fitted under said flanges and within the edges of the magazine.

15. A cartridge magazine having overhanging flanges formed on opposite sides of the bottom of the magazine, the inner sides of the flanges being substantially in the plane of the remainder of the bottom edge of the magazine, and a bottom closure adapted to be fitted under said flanges in such manner as to be restrained from movenient parallel to the flanges by the bottom edge -of the magazine.

16. A cartridge magazine having overhanging flanges at its lower end and a sheet metal closure adapted to be fitted under the flanges, the magazine end being so formed that when thus fitted the metal closure is restrained by the magazine walls from lateral movement in all directions, and an opening in the bottom closure into which a tool may be inserted to lift a portion of the closure whereby it may be moved past the magazine walls. A

17. A cartridge magazine formed with a body portion and rear extension and having overhanging flanges at its lower end and a sheet metal closure adapted to be fitted under the flanges, the magazine end being so formed that when thus fitted thev metal closure is restrained by the magazine Walls from lateral movement in al1 directions, and an opening in the bottom closure adjacent the portion thereof covering the rear eXtension into which Va tool may be inserted whereby that portion of the bottom v.closure may be lifted and moved past the magazine Walls.

Signed by me at New Canaan, Connecti out, this 25th day of June, 1920.

THEoDoRE HEICKHOFF. 

